Bird feeder with mesh inserted in grooves

ABSTRACT

Bird feeders of various shapes are formed at least partially of an expanded steel mesh material. The mesh is formed from thin sheet metal which is slit, expanded and formed into a portion of a bird feeder body.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/679,049,filed Jul. 12, 1996, and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,539

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a variety of bird feeders incorporatingexpanded metal mesh as a portion of the bird feeder body.

Many bird feeders incorporate either woven or welded wire screening ormesh for the purpose of retaining bird feed. The screening or mesh maybe incorporated into the sides of the bird feeder and/or form a portionof the bottom of the feeder in order to permit drainage while retainingthe feed.

Examples of bird feeders using conventional screening or mesh areillustrated by: U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,123,501; 1,891,042; 4,434,745;5,111,772; 5,195,459; 5,377,617 and 5,479,878; and Design Pat. Nos. Des.214,735; 277,514 and 351,691.

The welded or woven wire screening, which may be galvanized and/or vinylcoated, is relatively expensive and lacks strength and rigidity unlessthe mesh is substantially oversized or double layers are used. The issueof strength occurs, for example, when the mesh is incorporated into aseed catcher tray or in the bottom of a conventional bird feeder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the instant invention to provide an expanded metalmesh material which may be incorporated into numerous positions ofvarious types of feeders. The expanded mesh provides a more durable andless expensive product to manufacture. By using steel, for example, theexpanded mesh does not require the steps of welding, or weaving andgalvanizing as is customary with wire mesh or screening.

Another object is to provide an expanded metal mesh, as well as a methodof making the mesh such that the size of the openings can be regulatedduring manufacture. Thus, the ultimate feeder will be more attractive tothe desired specie of bird by conforming the openings to a particularfeed, which in turn will attract particular species of birds.

The objects are accomplished by constructing various types of birdfeeders with expanded steel mesh walls and/or bottoms, depending uponthe particular variety of feeder. The mesh is formed from sheet materialand incorporated into the feeder.

Other objects and advantages provided by the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the process of making the expandedmetal mesh;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the die of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows one form of the expanded mesh after being formed and priorto incorporation into a bird feeder;

FIG. 4 illustrates a peanut feeder incorporating the instant invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a multi-walled bird feeder incorporating the instantinvention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a two-sided hopper feeder with anexpanded metal mesh floor;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the feeder of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8--8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a seed catcher tray having an expandedmesh floor; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 10--10 in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of the manufacture of the mesh whichforms the basis for the invention. A sheet of metal material 1 moves inthe direction of arrow 3 underneath a serrated cutting die 5 (see FIG.2) which moves up and down as seen at arrow 7. (Other portions of thedie are not shown) The process of mechanically advancing the plate orsheet 1 beyond the face of the bottom of the die is well known in themetal processing field. The sheet is mechanically advanced an amountequal to the strand width of regular expanded metal before flattening.The top cutting die 5 then descends and simultaneously slits and coldforms an entire row of half-diamonds. The top die then ascends and movesone half-diamond to the right as the sheet 1 moves forward one strandwidth. The top die then descends, slits and forms another full row ofhalf-diamonds completing a row of full diamonds in two strokes. The diethen ascends, returns to its initial position and begins to form anotherrow of half-diamonds, repeating the process until a sheet of expandedmetal is completed, as seen in FIG. 3.

It will be appreciated that as the die descends, the sheet material iscut and stretched in order to form the diamonds. The depth of thedie-cut regulates the size of the diamond which is important inregulating the size and type of feed with which the expanded mesh isused.

FIG. 4 illustrates a common type of peanut feeder 11 formed of expandedmesh 13 and having a cylindrical sidewall. After the expanded mesh isformed, the punched sheet is flattened in order to permit easier workingand forming of the bird feeder. The edges of the flattened mesh arewelded to form a cylinder, and the finished feeder is then painted bymeans of a conventional electrostatic process. The bottom can also beformed of the expanded mesh or can include a separate bottom 15 and atop 17. A hook 19 is attached to or forms a part of a steel rod 21 whichextends through the center of the body and is attached to the bottom.The size of the mesh of the peanut feeder, as well as with the otherfeeders discussed below, is selected to conform with the bird feed to beplaced in the body. In other words, the mesh of a peanut feeder will besubstantially larger than the mesh associated with, for example, athistle feeder.

FIG. 5 illustrates a multi-walled feeder 25 having a conventional base27, a square or rectangular expanded mesh body 29 and a pair of angledroof members 31, one of which is pivoted about a hinge 33 to permit feedto be placed in the body portion 29. A typical hanger 35 is used toattach the feeder to a tree limb or the like.

FIG. 6 illustrates a two-sided, standard hopper feeder 41 having aplatform 43, a pair of sides 45 and a roof formed by a pair of members47 hinged at 49. A hanger 51 is attached to the roof for the purpose ofsuspending the feeder from a tree or the like. A pair of plexiglassfeed-retaining members 53 are connected between the sides 45. Aconventional triangular member (not shown) may be inserted in the centerof the feeder between walls 45 in order to displace the feed toward apair of openings 55 between the bottom of the plexiglass members 53 anda base or floor 59 of the feeder.

The novel portion of the instant hopper feeder as seen in FIGS. 7, isthe inclusion of expanded steel mesh 57 extended between a pair of woodmembers 59. FIG. 8 illustrates the mesh 57 inserted in a groove 61 inmembers 59. The mesh 57 is used in this feeder, in place of the woven orwelded wire mesh of the prior art, to permit drainage. The woven orwelded wire mesh, lacking the rigidity and strength of the instantexpanded mesh, is normally attached to the top of members such as 59 andis normally either very heavy or includes multiple layers to provide thestrength to hold the feed without overly sagging or breaking away.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a seed catcher tray 71 having a plurality ofside members 73 with the expanded mesh 75 extending therebetween. Aswith the floor of the hopper feeder, the mesh 75 is inserted in grooves77 in the side members 73. A center member 79 extends between a pair ofthe sides 73 and supports a conventional pole receiving support 81, apole 83 seen inserted therein. The height of the tray on the pole isadjusted by means of a thumb screw 85. The seed catcher tray is normallymounted underneath a hopper feeder which is positioned at the top of apole, and its function is to prevent the seed from falling to theground. Thus, the birds can feed from a hopper feeder mounted at the topof the pole and from the catcher tray.

The invention also comprises the method of constructing bird feedersfrom the expanded mesh material.

While several embodiments of the invention have been described, it willbe understood that it is capable of further modifications, and thisapplication is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations ofthe invention, following in general the principles of the invention andincluding such departures from the present disclosure as to come withinknowledge or customary practice in the art to which the inventionpertains, and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbeforeset forth and falling within the scope of the invention or the limits ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bird feeder, comprising:a feed-containing bodyhaving at least a bottom and a side, and wherein at least a portion ofthe body comprises mesh, and wherein the body comprises a plurality ofwood pieces, the wood pieces having grooves formed therein, and the meshbeing inserted in the grooves.
 2. A bird feeder according to claim 1,wherein the mesh is a punched sheet of non-welded, non-woven metalmaterial.
 3. A bird feeder according to claim 2, wherein the metal meshis steel.
 4. A bird feeder according to claim 2, wherein at least aportion of the bottom is formed of the metal mesh.
 5. A bird feederaccording to claim 2, wherein the body comprises a flat feeder tray, andwherein at least a substantial portion of the body comprises the metalmesh.
 6. A bird feeder according to claim 2, wherein the body includes aplurality of side members with the metal mesh extending therebetween. 7.A bird feeder according to claim 1, wherein the body includes aplurality of side members with the mesh extending therebetween.
 8. Abird feeder according to claim 7, including a central member extendingbetween a pair of side members, and a pole adjustably inserted throughthe central member.
 9. A bird feeder according to claim 1, wherein thebody includes a hopper having a platform comprising the wood pieces andmesh.
 10. A bird feeder according to claim 1, wherein the mesh isexpanded.
 11. A bird feeder according to claim 10, wherein the expandedmesh is metal.